Ohio zoo welcomes orphaned Alaska moose calves

8/23/2011

POWELL, Ohio -- An Ohio zoo has become home to three orphaned moose calves from Alaska.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said Tuesday that the critters were rescued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Two of the young moose - a male and female - are twins born in mid-May. The third is a female born in early June.

They're still being bottle-fed and have not yet joined the zoo's other moose, who officials say are getting on in years.

Columbus Zoo Director Emeritus (ee-MEHR'-ih-tuhs) Jack Hanna says he first saw the newcomers in Alaska when they were only a few weeks old. He says in a statement that when they look up with their big brown eyes "it just melts your heart."